Proofreading Tips

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Susan

Proofreading Tips: Hank Wieland

Proofread all drafts at least twice — and only stop proofing after a reading yields no additional corrections, i.e., assure your final reading is a clean one.

When finished editing/proofreading on computer using “track changes,” be certain to switch the view to “Final” to take one last look for proper spacing and extra punctuation marks that are difficult to spot when viewing tracked changes.

Words of the Week:

Use between to compare two elements. Use among to compare three or more.

Plural is done correctly as attorneys general, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, heads of state.

Some recent news clips with errors follow:

Where to focus when proofreading

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Susan

By Hank Wieland

When proofreading, focus more on content during one review and more on spelling/punctuation/grammar during another reading. Click on the link to see an example relevant to this post. 20120214110942151

Don’t forget to use the spell-checking function on your computer.

Watch hyphenations at the end of lines:
re-cord vs. rec-ord
pro-ject vs. proj-ect
These words and others occasionally are split incorrectly by software and yield the wrong meaning.

Words of the Week:

The word premiere (with e on the end) applies to the first public appearance. The word premier relates to top status, chief and principal.

Base ball … base-ball … baseball — the two words eventually became one. Set your organization’s style for e-mail … email, and for trade show … tradeshow. Then be consistent in your usage.

Watch Out for Frequent Proofing Errors

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Susan

By Hank Wieland

Give special proofing attention to heads and subheads, photo captions, artwork such as charts and graphs, and “call-out” quotes used in layout. Often this material is drafted after the article and does not get reviewed as thoroughly as longer text. Also, turn on software for routine checking of spelling and grammar — and address all issues flagged.

Words of the Week:

Use i for insure when related to actual insurance products, policies and the industry; use e for ensure when involving non-insurance references such as ensuring you drive sober.

Beware of potentially embarrassing and unacceptable typos that can creep into copy — double check words such as public law and public relations, as well as spelling of family names such as Fuchs.

Some recent news clips, headlines and cartoons with errors follow:
Examples

Proofreading Tips From Our Pro

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Susan

By Hank Wieland

When proofing short, very important pieces such as ads, formal invitations and award certificates, always read from right to left and from the bottom of the page to the top…focus on every word and every punctuation mark. Use magnification on screen and on paper. In addition, ask others to read before external distribution.

The goal: Assure a completely clean product, no embarrassments and no revised printings.

Words of the Week:

complement/compliment…complement involves the element of completing with “ple” rooted in both words, but compliment involves a favorable statement.

advance/advanced…advance involves forward, such as planning for the future, but advanced means high-tech or ahead of the times.

Write Local, Think Global

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Carla Harrington

How does this affect me? It’s the first question people ask themselves when presented with new information.

How does this affect us? Information is also deemed valuable when it offers a broader perspective, reflecting state, national, or global trends.

Improve the power of your communications by answering both of these questions. “Write Local” to reinforce the relevance of your message. “Think Global” to establish your professional expertise and appeal to the widest possible audience.

These real-life examples pull you into the rest of the story with “Write Local, Think Global” strategies.

While 2011 has been proclaimed the Year of School Choice by The Wall Street Journal and numerous pundits, Virginia remains one of the South’s lone holdouts….

- Op-Ed column by Robert Holland and Don Soifer published by The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, VA Nov. 8, 2011.

Miracle Whip dressing isn’t for everyone. The condiment’s bold taste sends couples to their demise as quickly as it unifies others. With the average wedding…or divorce costing upwards of $25,000, Miracle Whip wants to be there for the I do’s, and the I don’ts, allowing lovers and haters to win $25,000 towards the cost of a wedding, or divorce, through its “Not for Every Relationship” contest ….

-Kraft Foods, Inc. press release July 18, 2011.

Fine jewelry, watches and gift ware will almost certainly cost you less at Borsheim’s. I’ve looked at the figures for all publicly-owned jewelry companies and the contrast with Borsheim’s is startling. Our one-store operation, with its huge volume, enables us to operate with costs that are fully 15-20 percentage points below those incurred by our competitors….

-Excerpted from A Message from Warren E. Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. November 2011.

Vastly different writing styles and topics, but all three examples effectively engage the reader. We’ll see just how effective they are next time we’re at the grocers buying mayonnaise, contemplating a jewelry purchase online, or considering School Choice options in Virginia.

Avastin will be big healthcare story this week

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Susan

This healthcare story is going to be big on the Internet and should be interesting to see how social media intersects with reporting from traditional channels. The Citizen Oncologist is on top of it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/health/27drug.html

AC 360 Probing Nuclear News Angle

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Susan

When I didn’t see Anderson Cooper for a couple of evenings on CNN I knew he was heading to Japan; I’m glad he is on the nuclear power angle. I was just outside of the 20 mile radius of TMI when it failed and I reported on human reactions to that event for the Harrisburg Patriot newspaper, but it took time for me to put that personal experience behind me. I have since been afraid to live anywhere near one. There is much to learn about the risks in operating nuclear plants so the power can be harnessed safely. We need to hear from more than just the plant operators in Japan. I’m tuned in where I can find real reporting, not just talking heads. AC360 is asking the probing questions needed while also featuring the human experience with compassion.